Three men accused of murder in a deadly failed robbery attempt pleaded guilty to reduced charges Monday, July 11.
The three have been in jail awaiting trial since their arrests following the March 12, 2019, fatal shooting of 19-year-old Kenneth Porter at an Augusta apartment complex.
Saxxon M. Vance, 23, Antoine D. Stokes, 19, and Austin S. O’Shields, 24, pleaded guilty to different charges that attorneys agreed better fit their part in what lead to Porter’s death.
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Vance and Porter were friends who pulled a robbery of two men whom thought they were going to buy a television set on March 4, 2019, said Assistant District Attorney Ryne Cox.
On March 12, 2019, they decided to pull another robbery, this time of the man they expected to bring marijuana to the apartment complex off Washington Road that day. Stokes, who was at the complex, was asked to join in and was given a gun, Cox said.
O’Shields arrived at the apartment complex with the marijuana and was confronted by Porter who put a gun to his head, Cox said. O’Shields pulled out his gun and shot Porter.
Everyone present fled the scene, but Stokes, who was just 16 at the time, immediately told his mother what happened, and he followed her advice to go to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and tell investigators what happened, Cox said.
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Stokes had a gun, but he didn’t point it at anyone and didn’t approach the vehicle with Porter, said defense attorney William Fleming. Stokes’ former defense attorney who is now a full-time juvenile court judge, Willie Saunders, said Stokes is a good young man from a good family who made a bad decision that day.
Vance pleaded guilty to two counts of armed robbery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. Judge Amanda Heath sentenced him to 15 years in prison followed by 10 years on probation.
Stokes pleaded guilty to criminal attempt to commit armed robbery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. Heath sentenced him to five years in prison followed by 10 years on probation under the First Offender Act.
O’Shields pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Heath sentenced him to five years in prison followed by 10 years on probation.
Sandy Hodson is a staff reporter covering courts for The Augusta Press. Reach her at sandy@theaugustapress.com.
